Clasp.



J. C. HITCHNER.

CLASP.

APPLICATION FILED MAYM, m3.

F0 1 9 1 00 1 n p A d 6 t n w a P.

//V VE IV TOR WI TIVESSES:

HIE NORRIS Pill-R5 or! Plmm JOSEPH C. HITGI-INER, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CLASP.

Application filed May 14, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that T, Josnrri C. HrrcHNnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in clasps, which are particularly adapted for use in connection with hose supporters, but are also adapted for various other uses, the object of the invention being to provide a clasp which will lie comfortably against the leg or body of the wearer, and which will securely hold the stocking without danger of release, and without injuring the stocking.

A further object is toprovide an improved clasp of this character which is composed of spring wire and sheet metal, and which exerts, when moved to operative position, a strong spring locking action and which is neat and attractive in appearance, and strong and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1' is a perspective view illustrating my 1mproved clasp in its locked or operative position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the clasp in its unlocked or released position. Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation of the clasp inits locked position. Fig. 4: is a view in longitudinal section showing the clasp in its released or open position. Fig. 5 is a similar View in longitudinal section illustrating the clasp in its closed or locked position, and Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating the bail disengaged from the hook.

1 represents a spring wire frame which is bent between its ends forming an oblong loop 2, and at its ends bent in triangular formation as shown at 3 with inwardly projected ends 4 projected into a bearing 5 formed by bending a tongue 6 on a pivot plate 7. A sheet metal plate 8 is secured to the loop 2 by bending rearwardly around the ends of the loop, metal tongues 9, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Thls plate 8 1s provided at one edge with a curved hook 10 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915..

Serial no. 767,498.

which extends throughout the length of the plate 8 and has curved or rounded ends as clearly shown.

The stocking 11 or other articles supported, 1S clamped inside the hook by means of a wire bail 12, and this wire bail is pivotally mounted in a bearing 13 formed by bending forwardly in a general compound curve the end 1 1 of plate 7. This com pound curvature of the end 14: also provides a bearing 15 for a loop 16 to which the garter or other supporter 17 is attached. A Dad 18 connects the supporter with the loop 2, and serves to keep the metal of the clasp away from the body or garment of the wearer. This particular form of pad may, of course, be varied without departing from the invention.

The tongue 6 of plate 7 is formed by slitting the end of the plate at two points, so that at the extreme side ed es of said plate 7 two fingers 19 are provi ed which engage the wire frame 3 and limit the pivotal movement of the plate 7.

It will be noted that the bail 12 is wider at its free end than at its pivoted end, and

at the corners of this bail at its widest end,

it is curved as shown at 20 to provide ample accommodation for the hose at the edges of the hook to prevent any possibility of cutting the silk or thread in the hose.

In Figs. 2 and 4c the clasp is illustrated in its open position with plate 7 swung rearwardly upon the bearing 5, the inturned ends 41 of spring wire frame 1 acting as journals to permit this rearward pivotal movement.

When the hose 11 is positioned over the hook 10, the bail 12 can be positioned over the hose inside the hook, and when plate 7 is forced back to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the bail 12 will bind the goods in the hook. During this movement of plate 7, the pivotal connection of bearing 5 and ends 4 will be moved rearwardly beyond the bearing 13 for bail 12, so that it will be securely locked. During this movement of the plate 7, a pull is had upon the spring frame 1, due to the fact that the distance from 15 to the lower transverse portion of the bail 12 is shorter than the distance from 15 to the hook 10 when the parts 1 and 7 are in alinement and the bail disengaged from the hook. The difference in lengths above mentioned is compensated for by the resiliency of the portions of the loop 2 adjoining the triangular portions of the frame, so that the bail is elastically held in locked position. To break this locked position, it is necessary to force the bearing end 5 of plate 7 outwardly. This cannot be done by accident, as any pressure on the clasp only tends to force the plate in the reverse direction, hence accidental opening of the clasp is obviated. The fingers 19 limit the rearward movement of the plate7, so that it cannot be moved beyond a normal locking position. Various slight changes -might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make ,such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

.1. A clasp comprising a spring wire frame, a plate secured to the frame and hav- 25 ing a hook thereon, a plate pivotally connected at one end to the spring wire frame, and a bail adapted to engage under said hook, said bail pivotally connected to the last-mentioned plate and adapted to contract the length of said frame as said plate is moved into alinement with said frame, substantially as described.

2. A clasp comprising a spring wire frame, a plate secured to the frame and having a hook thereon, a plate pivotally connected at oneend to the spring wire frame, a bail adapted to engage under said hook and pivotally connected to the last-mentioned plate, said pivotal connection between the bail and the last-mentioned plate located on the last-mentioned plate at the side thereof opposite the pivotal connection of said plate with the frame, and at a point farther removed from the hook, and said bail being adapted to contract the length of said frame as said plate is moved into alinement with said frame, substantially as described.

' 3, A clasp comprising a spring wire i frame, a plate secured to said frame and having a hook thereon, a pivot plate pivotally connected to the frame, a bail pivotally connected to said pivot plate and adapted to be positioned over the hook, said bail wider at its'free end than at its pivotal end, and at its wider end projecting beyond both ends of the hook and at such projecting portions curved, substantially as described.

4:. A clasp comprising a spring wire frame, a plate secured to the frame and having a hook thereon, a plate pivotally connected at one end to the spring wire frame, a bail adapted to engage over said hook, and pivotally connected to the last-mentioned plate, said bail being adapted to contract the length of said frame as said plate is moved into alinement with said frame, said pivotal connection between the bail and the lastmentioned plate located on the last-mentioned plate at the side thereof opposite the pivotal connection of said plate with the frame, and at a point farther removed from the hook, and fingers on said pivot plate adapted to engage the wire frame and limit the pivotal movement of the pivot plate in one direction, substantially as described.

5. A clasp comprising a spring wire frame, a plate secured to said frame and having a hook thereon, a pivot plate pivotally connected to the frame, a bail pivotally connected to said pivot plate and adapted to be positioned under the hook, said bail being adapted to contract the length of said frame as said plate is moved into locking position, and fingers on said pivot plate adapted to engage the wire frame and limit the pivotal movement of the pivot plate in one direction, substantially as described.

6. A clasp comprising a spring wire frame bent between its ends forming an oblong loop and at its ends forming a triangular extension, the portion of said oblong loop adjacent said triangular portion constituting resilient means for permitting contraction of the frame in length, a plate secured to the oblong portion of the frame and having a hook extending throughout one edge thereof, a pivot plate having bearings on its opposite sides, one of said bearings receiving the ends of the triangular extension of said spring frame, a wire bail supported in the other of said bearings, and adapted to engage under said hook and to contract the length of said frame when said plate is moved into alinement with said frame, and tongues on said pivoted plate adapted to engage the spring wire frame and limit the pivotal movement of the pivot plate in one direction, and means on the upper end of the plate for attaching a supporting web, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH C. HITCHNER.

Witnesses:

G. A. RUMPF, Jr., CHAS. E. Po'rrs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

